Work DEI response: single-sex toilets

[ToriaB]

Excerpted response below from my email to the head of DEI where I work; my question and his answer.

Tempted to respond by saying "Humans don't change sex".

Just to confirm – does this mean that [this higher education institution] are no longer offering single-sex facilities at the study centres?

No – there is no change to our facilities, [the higher education institution] are continuing to provide single-sex facilities. Trans men may use male designated toilets and Trans women may use female designated toilets, as is our current policy. We are also investigating the possibility of our accessible toilets broadening their scope so that they may be used as a gender-neutral, single-lockable space.

@ToriaB I've been following you thread and something has occurred to me from their latest email. They say single sex toilets are available in every building. Could it be that there is some provision somewhere in each building and they are being deliberately obtuse in not stating the majority are mixed but there some has been retain for those who want it. Obviously not good enough but perhaps they are deliberately being arses and know exactly what they are doing.

Thanks @Stemmingthetide and everyone else who wisely suggested caution. I've not responded to them yet because at the end of the day I'm rather keen on paying my mortgage and considerably less keen on getting enmired in a grievance process or beyond. I've watched with awe and admiration as Maya and Allison and the others have fought their cases and seen how harsh the toll is. It did push me to realise how little I enjoy working at [Redacted Institution] and I've started looking for a new job elsewhere.
Seeing the fantastic Fahmy result and the marvellous news about Maya's remedy judgement I feel more confident in a further challenge but in the short term I might focus on getting in these immediate job applications and providing the feedback as part of my exit interview. It's a big fight and a long one and I'd like to be there for the whole thing, not caught up with this shower of clowns.

No, sadly they specifically say that transwomen using women's toilets means that they are still single-sex. Hence their agreement to put mirrors on the back of toilet stall doors for women to be able to adjust their hijab without washing their hands, which really annoyed me. I worked out in the Gulf and with international students from the Middle East for some time and the fact that Eid Mubarak has been totally ignored in an institution with a substantial hijabi population while the Holy Month of Pride has taken over all the social media channels and they're handing out progress pride lanyards and pronoun badges: our EDI guy only cares about one protected characteristic.

@ToriaB very sensible, good luck with the applications.

I've just read through all your posts on this thread, ToriaB, and am in a state of awe at your persistence and excellently-written emails, and rage at their idiocy and attempts to bully you. How dare they?
I hope everything works out for you, and that you find a job where you don’t have to put up with arseholes like these.

Excellent strategising, @ToriaB
When you get your new job sorted, why not report your ex-employers to the EHRC? They have a confidential whistleblower process and your emails would be great evidence of direct and indirect sex/religious discrimination, affecting a significant number of women. You would not be outed to your old employer and it might mean that the EHRC (which seems to be back on the right path under Baroness Falkner) might intervene and force them to comply with the law.

Such a good point, it's been eid for 2 days and literally nothing. It's probably the most important Islamic celebration and yet our society pushes pride month or fathers day only.

They've admitted they know the toilets are mixed sex by moving the mirrors.

Exactly! If they really thought TWAW there would be no need to move them. The fact they say they will shows they know TW are men

No, sadly they specifically say that transwomen using women's toilets means that they are still single-sex.

This makes no sense, you can’t be a trans woman unless you are male.

No, sadly they specifically say that transwomen using women's toilets means that they are still single-sex.

Most people would therefore conclude that their position is that sex and gender are the same thing. If it were me, and I wanted to not leave this alone, I would simply ask them to confirm this point.

Not necessarily. It shows that they know that Muslims consider transwomen to be men (sex). I imagine they think Muslims are bigots, but are prepared to compromise a little to try to avoid a religious or race discrimination claim.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if they could provide separate toilets for bigots all women who consider trans women to be men?

I wonder if the shift in the labour party, more publicity for detransitioners etc will change people's minds on this? Or at least give the people who never agreed the courage to speak up.

Or even better that he understands that :

sex is a legally protected characteristic ,gender is not.

sex is something you are born with and is unchangeable

most people identify with their sex and can’t be arsed with gender

if you do decide to gender identify then that is your business and you shouldn’t be trying to coerce other people to validate your choices.

As I remember, some idiot announced this a couple of years ago, that the answer was to stuff all the nasty women who can't won't validate male people with their bodies in a room by themselves because who wants to go near them anyway.

And the women all went yay, yes please!

And the idiot and a lot of male people said.....'wait a minute'.....

Sadly, it's the non consenting ones who are the goal.

I do wonder about this in my workplace - once a staff member announces their transition, they have a private meeting with their manager and HR and toilet provision is decided. I have failed to find out what the provision is for "Simon"s colleagues now that he has decided to become "Simone". What do they do if they're not happy with "Simone"'s choice?

I've got a feeling it was Little OJ

TERF toilets - love the idea 😂

dr haddock I think

An update:

I have a new job and I'm moving to a different university. Better paid, better title, an area I'm more excited about working in.

I have an exit survey to complete and as I have no intention of returning to this particular institution I am planning to be quite clear on how part of my reason for leaving is the failure to consider the needs of our students and the right of female students and staff to have male free toilets.

I have dotted line reporting to one of the deans and when I explained I was leaving was asked whether there were reasons other than the fact that the new job is an excellent opportunity and explicitly said that there had been this issue with HR to which the response was that HR are clearly in the wrong.

Thank you every one for your support on this. I'm going into a new probationary period so will be keeping my head down for a while, but back in a campus university so will probably be back to stealth stickering.

The fight goes on, leaving a battle doesn't mean surrendering the war.

Good for you! Wishing you all the best in your new position.

Great news, OP. Good luck in your new job

So much FUCKWIT. Sending you hugs for having had to read it and think I work with this absolute vegetable.

And congratulations on the new job now I’ve read through!